Surfin’ safari in South Africa

words by Hazel Lubbock

The Garden Route - more renowned for its wildlife than its waves
- may not be the first place you might think of to surf. The waters
aren't as warm as those off Hawaii, the breaks not as epic as along
Australia's Gold Coast, and the beaches not as iconic as in
California.

Don't let that put you off: here you can skim along in front of
Table Mountain, take on tubes at Outer Kom, and feel the spray at
Kommetjie. And thanks to the first surf-safari from Cape Town to
Port Elizabeth, excellent surf is pretty much guaranteed.

Boutique surf-holiday specialist Tropicsurf guides travellers
along the south eastern coast, where swells are consistent and huge
waves roll in from the Atlantic. Surfers can hit the spectacular
breaks off Elands Bay and ride in the wake of legends at surf break
Bruce's Beauties in Jeffreys Bay, featured in 1960s surf
documentary Endless Summer.

Most excellent of all is that you can either do the trip
self-drive, and the Tropicsurf team will let you know where the
best breaks can be found each day and recommend the best hotels to
stay in nearby; or you can take a driver-guide-surfing-tutor along
with you, and learn as you go.

The itinerary is completely chilled, so surfers can still see
the best of the route, pausing for wine-tasting or to see the Big
Five.

Tropicsurf (020 7060 6747; www.tropicsurf.net) offers a 10-night
self-drive tour from £2,950 per person, including three nights
B&B at Camps Bay Retreat, one night
B&B at The Views Boutique Hotel, Wilderness,
three nights at B&B African
Perfection J-Bay (Penthouse) and three nights
full-board at Kwandwe Ecca near Port Elizabeth, car
hire, one-way flight back to Cape Town from Port Elizabeth, and one
day surfing with a Tropicsurf guide. Fully guided tours cost from
£650 more per person based on four travelling together.